Local teens perform in production of 'The Wedding Singer'

n Local teens perform in production of 'The Wedding Singer'

"The Wedding Singer," with its Adam Sandler-infused humor and '80s debauchery, might seem an odd choice for a show performed by teenagers. Yet when Patrick Dorow Productions' latest musical opens at 7:30 Friday, April 4, at the Star Theatre in Kittery, Maine, the audience might forget they're watching students and not professional actors.

Comment

By Caitlin Andrews

seacoastonline.com

By Caitlin Andrews

Posted Apr. 3, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Caitlin Andrews

Posted Apr. 3, 2014 at 2:00 AM

WHAT: The Wedding Singer

WHEN: Runs from April 4 to April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and at 2 p.m. Saturday and SundayWHERE: Star Theatre at the Kittery Community Center, 120 Rogers Road, Kittery, Maine

» Read more

X

WHAT: The Wedding Singer

WHEN: Runs from April 4 to April 6 at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

"The Wedding Singer," with its Adam Sandler-infused humor and '80s debauchery, might seem an odd choice for a show performed by teenagers. Yet when Patrick Dorow Productions' latest musical opens at 7:30 Friday, April 4, at the Star Theatre in Kittery, Maine, the audience might forget they're watching students and not professional actors.

"There's this creative spark in these kids," Director Patrick Dorow says of his charges, who hail from seven or eight schools in the area. "They love it — it fits right in with the kind of shows we do."

"The play follows Robbie Hart, who is the most popular wedding singer in the town of Richfield. After getting left at the altar, Hart descends into a drunken stupor until he meets Julia, a beautiful waitress. Once he realizes his feelings for Julia, Hart has to win her from her lackluster fiance, Glenn, before they get married.

Dorow said the choice to produce "The Wedding Singer" came from his own chance to perform in a professional rendition a few years ago. He knew he wanted to do something students would find exciting.

"It's an Adam Sandler script, so it's a little more adult than what you can get away with in high school," Dorow said.

For actors Emilia Byrne and Tatiana Reyes, both 17 and of Traip Academy in Kittery, this is the first time they've performed outside of high school productions.

"It's been crazy," said Byrne, who plays Robbie's mother. "We've had less time than I'm used to — we completely started a month ago — but it's all come together."

Reyes agrees that while working in a bigger production has been challenging, the commitment from her peers has made the show something special.

Then there's Elias Matso, 12, of Shapleigh School in Kittery, who will be acting for the first time ever as part of the ensemble. He said the best part of the show has been everyone working together, recounting when they had to decorate the set as a group.

"It's been really fun," Matso said. "You'll really be able to see how hard we worked."

Of course, seasoned actors also are present. Portsmouth seniors Morgan Blanchard and Abby Scharff will be taking the roles of Robbie and Julia, one of the last times the duo will perform together. Like the other teens, the time commitment for them — between school and other shows — has been tough, as has putting together a show of this size in a short amount of time.

"There's a lot more lines, more dancing than a high school show," Blanchard said. "It's essentially the movie with songs thrown in."

Scharff feels that Dorow's directorial style has made the show what it is.

"He works us harder, but it works," Scharff said. "It's made our energy fresh, and we work like pros."

Proceeds from the show will benefit the local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, the mission of which is to help children through one-on-one peer mentorship.